South Africa’s premier gravel bike race and a qualifying event for the TREK UCI Gravel World Championships.
The Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo starts and ends in Prince Albert, arguably one of the most attractive Karoo towns in South Africa, it covers 170 km of which there are 3 gravel sectors covering 79 km. The final climb is over the gravel Swartberg Pass, a relentless climb of 28 km, the last 9.8 km being on gravel with gradients of 16% in places.
The Swartberg 100, in true South African tradition, is one of the toughest Gran Fondo’s in the world. We have created a course that goes back to the days of old when mountain passes were all gravel and brave cyclists climbed them on single speed bikes weighing in at 16 kg. A course that allows us to pit our modern training knowledge and technology against an old foe, a road surface that isn’t always friendly.
The Swartberg100 takes place in the South African town of Prince Albert at the edge of the Great Karoo.
Prince Albert is undoubtedly South Africa’s most attractive Karoo Town and lies at the foot of the iconic gravel Swartberg Pass, built by Thomas Bain in 1888, it has remained in it’s original form for over 130 years..
